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Wednesday, October 10th, 2012

TIM FITE Introduced by Stephanie Pereira

Old Peephole was created specifically for the Window at 125. It is a combination of pencil/ink/acrylic/beeswax drawing on paper, and stop motion charcoal animation. The piece is part of an ongoing exploration of "underdrawing." "Underdrawing" is a two tiered concept that originated in a fascination with X-rays of old masterworks. The peephole in "Old Peephole" serves the same function as the X-ray machine, giving the viewer a means of looking through the artwork to the "underdrawing," which in this case happens to move and make noise (this is the first tier). The second tier of "underdrawing" is the notion of simplified mark making for an economical narrative structure. Less process, more meaning.

Tim and I met in college, years ago. Back then, he was my mentor, teaching me about art, and also the RA at my dorm, keeping me out of trouble. Tim can only be described as someone who is constantly making: books, collages, paintings, drawings, videos, prints (upon prints upon prints), music and merch for his various bands. During college he was signed to Lava/Atlantic, and more recently to ANTI. So his main gig thus far has been music (which is exceptional). Through music,
Tim has continued to make visual work pushing the boundaries of his live performances with a multi-media show that employs Keynote, drawing, storytelling, sing-alongs, a light-up boombox sculpture and one smart laptop. The thing about Tim is that anyone who knows his work, is excited about it. Those of us "in the know" have commissioned animations, broadsides, prints and even a Ketubah or two; we have bartered for things we could not afford; booked him shows whenever we had one to book (and extended those shows when they did so well); and collected his drawings, prints and
paintings from the internet and from his living room. We have told our friends about him, and co-opted his brilliance for our own ends. Tim, quite simply, is an incredible artist. I am "introducing" him, simply so that you may share in the joy of his work, and engage him in your own creative efforts.
-Stephanie Pereira

Tim Fite lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. He makes art and music in equal measure. He has a recording contract with Anti records, and is a print shop steward at the Center For Book Arts. No matter how hard he tries to make serious music, someone always ends up laughing. No matter how hard he tries to make funny artwork, someone always ends up wearing a black turtleneck. Most recently, Fite was praised in the New Yorker for his musical/visual contribution to the Brooklyn Philharmonic Outside/In fellowship, "The standout piece at that event was "CopyCat," an ode to a runaway feline, by the singer-songwriter Tim Fite; at once satirical, dreamlike, foulmouthed, and bittersweet, with rugged string quartet writing to match, it was a feral original creation." You can see more of Tim’s work at: http://cargocollective.com/timfite

Stephanie Pereira is the Director of the Art Program at Kickstarter. Before joining Kickstarter she was the Associate Director of Learning and Engagement at Eyebeam Art & Technology Center. For nearly a decade, she has worked with artists and arts organizations to produce and curate shows, festivals and singular events. Since getting her BFA at Mason Gross School of the Arts and MA in Arts Administration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago all she has wanted to do, and has done, is work with artists to "make stuff." And so she has done. Most recently, she has been collaborating with Tim Fite. They plan to take the world by storm. This piece will occupy The Window at 125 from October 15-30th 2012 To accompany the work in the window space, a celebration of each artist and the formal introduction will take place in the form of a conversation between the champion and artist. They are posted in its entirety every two weeks on rogersmithlife.com.